A Nod To Chase McLaughlin
January 20th, 2026
So the Buccaneers have the best long-distance kicker in the NFL. Yes, even better than freakish Cam Little.
But Chase McLaughlin didn’t make this season’s Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams, Joe? That’s true. But he might have deserved to.
McLaughlin, through three Bucs seasons is the best kicker ever to wear a Tampa Bay uniform. That stats bear that out, and stats are just about everything with kickers, though McLaughlin hasn’t been tested in Super Bowls like Bucs ring-bearers Martin Gramatica and Ryan Succop.
It’s not hyperbole. McLaughlin’s numbers dwarf Gramatica’s. This season, McLaughlin was a ridiculous 11-of-12 from 50 yards or longer. This season’s NFC All-Pro kicker, Will Reichard of the Vikings, was 11-of 13. McLaughlin also nailed a 65-yarder that set the outdoor NFL record.
If you want to say the 2025 ball was juiced, you’d be correct. But McLaughlin was 15-of-18 (83 percent) from long range through the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Reichard was at 94 percent conversion overall this year. That’s where McLaughlin was last year. After September hiccups this season, McLaughlin finished as strong or stronger than any kicker in the game.
Don’t discount on a strong kicking game can help lure an offensive coordinator. While field goals are never the goal, those guys love having their points-per-game stats padded by a kicker than can make them look good.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht really fixed the kicking game. After six years of ugliness (2014-2019), it’s been six years of Bucs fans not having panic attacks on fourth down.
January 20th, 2026 at 11:38 am
were the blocked kicks on Chase or the line or the ST coach ??
The Week 18 one was a low snap pulled off the ground. Great look at it within the Bucs’ recently released mic’d up video. –Joe
January 20th, 2026 at 11:38 am
The most reliable player on the team. Happy to have him.
January 20th, 2026 at 11:40 am
only consistent player 2025 MVP the kicker lol
January 20th, 2026 at 11:47 am
The only true Captain on the team…. We are so Lucky! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
January 20th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Unfortunately, he too is stuck under the yoke of Todd Bowles.
If he is to ever kick a meaningful FG in a NFC title game or a SB, that needs to change.
Todd Bowles is championship kryptonite.
A real Munson.
January 20th, 2026 at 11:55 am
I think we have learned that “let’s have fun” football philosophy doesn’t work.
As I said, we should have never let Tom Brady leave the building.
The Glazers should have given him the same deal the Raiders gave him.
Tom Brady was right. We need discipline to win a Super Bowl.
“Having fun” is not the philosophy.
Being a killer and a hard worker is the way.
We have too many “nice” guys.
We need more psychos like Brady, JPP and Suh.
F*** “fun”
I want to WIN!
Winning is fun!
January 20th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
It definitely sucks when you have a bad kicker.
January 20th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
So happy we have Chase. He is one of the underrated players too, and should be at the Pro Bowl. But that is okay, lets keep him healthy for the new OC.
January 20th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
You know what will lure an offensive coordinator…a competent head coach
January 20th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Teacherman
I too will never let Baker live that “fun” comment down. I love how Brady addressed it during the telecast by saying he wasn’t having fun if he wasn’t winning Superbowls. He then said if he wanted to have fun he’d take his kids to Disneyland. Lol…some players aren’t interested in winning. And obviously some owners aren’t either.
January 20th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
Football is a game… football is supposed to be fun. You think Ray Lewis, Brady, and Jerry Rice weren’t having fun?
As far as “teacherman”‘s comments… always laughed at the irony of his name, how did giving Brady a deal to come to the Raiders work out for them? Did they go to the Super Bowl? Not even sure they could go to Disney World with their 3-14 record. The Brady worship has gotten out of hand. Baker is fantastic when he has a competent offensive coordinator… still far better than Brady was when he was the de facto co-coordinator with Leftwich. Not even comparable but some of y’all have your noses so far up Brady’s jock that you couldn’t see it anyways.
January 20th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
I remember the early season freak out over a few misses he had and the d!psh!ts calling for his head.
I was not one of them.
January 20th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Remember how many of the morons on this site wanted Chase gone after his shaky start in September? You know who you are.
January 20th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Chase is money. Hopefully JL doesn’t f this up for some contract issue. Please keep this guy a Buc. One of the top 5 for sure.
January 20th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
It only took that blind squirrel 6 yrs. Definitely a low bar for ROH